What factors to consider while buying a Dishwasher?

Dishwashers have become an integral part of the Indian household, especially since maids are hard to find, not to mention expensive. Like refrigerators, toasters and ovens, the dishwasher has taken its place in the kitchen. Investing in this machine is worth your money and there are quite a lot of brands available in the market like IFB, Bosch, Siemens, LG, Samsung etc.

Dishwasher Buying Tips

Before you go shopping for one of these, there are quite a few factors you should consider. Below are a few tips to make your decision easier.

Capacity: The capacity of a dishwasher is the number of utensils it can hold, so decide on how large a machine you want. Keep in mind the number of people in your household, your food habits, size of your utensils etc. You can purchase high-end dishwashers that are capable of cleaning up to 116 utensils at a time, while a minimum capacity machine serves a 4-plate setting.

Check the features of Dishwasher

Most modern dishwashers come equipped with a host of features that allow easier handling. Some common features are-

Cycle Time: Similar to washing machines, it refers to the total time of any selected wash cycle. This depends on how dirty your utensils are and the type of vessels you keep inside.
Wash Programs: Denotes the number of pre-set programs in the machine. More modes of operation means faster and easier washing of utensils.
Temperature Range: Dishwashers have built-in heaters to heat the water. Select the one which would cost you less electricity.
Auto Restart: This is a good option to have in case of power failure. The electromechanical timer inside the machine allows it to store the point of cycle when the machine stopped, thus allowing it to restart from there when power returns.
Door Safety Lock: This feature is particularly useful for households with children. The lock clicks into place when the dishwasher is in operation, preventing anyone from fiddling with it.

Different types of Dishwasher

There are different types available and you can choose the one that would suit your kitchen needs.

Built-in Dishwasher: This is the most common one, where the standard 24-inch size machine is built right into the kitchen cabinet.
Freestanding Dishwashers: These are individual machines that are also portable. You can store them when not in use and can take it to another room if you wish. They have the same quality and capacity as the built-in ones.

High price doesn’t mean High-Quality

Dishwashers are priced according to their capacity. When seeking price, remember that a highly priced machine need not perform as well as a low range one. Some costly dishwashers might not be of good quality or harbour many features, so check thoroughly and buy.

Key Factors to Note

• Check the insulation on the dishwasher. The thicker the insulation, the less noise will be heard.
• Check the spray-hole size in the wash rooms of the machine. Smaller holes provide more scrubbing power.
• Ensure there is a mesh or cover in the drain hole that would allow the water to leave but prevents rodents from entering.